Chapel

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on low rise of ground with good views in all directions with modern graveyard extension immediately to S. Site of building (WM026-035----) in field 220m to W, standing stone (WM026-036----) known locally as the 'Cloghstuckagh' 235m to NW, ringfort (WM026-038----) 185m to N, ringfort (WM026-039----) 130m to NNE and third ringfort (WM026-073----) 280m to SSE. In 1837 Thomas O'Conor of the Ordnance Survey recorded that in Catherinestown 'there are small remains of the walls of an old church in ruins' (OSL 14/G/14/5(11), vol. 2, 47). No church or graveyard is depicted on the 1657 Down Survey parish map of Lynn (NLI, MS 723-4). In 1867 Cogan (1867, 453) wrote that 'the old chapels of Marlonstown, Kenny, Kilronan, and Hopestown were pulled down. They are now graveyards'.
Kilronan Church depicted on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch where it is shown standing in SE quadrant of Kilronan graveyard (WM036-037003-). On this map the S and E walls of the church formed the enclosing element of the graveyard. On the revised 1876 ed. OS 6-inch map the church building is depicted as 'Church Site of'. Church building possibly levelled between 1837 and 1876 editions of the OS maps. Low wall footings enclose a sunken area marks site of levelled church or chapel (approx. dims. 15m E-W x 6m N-S) in SE quadrant of graveyard. Several headstones have been erected on the footprint of the levelled church.

See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 19 January 2018

References

NLI, MS 723-4 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey for the County of Westmeath, attested by W. Petty, in 1659. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers in two volumes, 1786-7. Dublin.

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.